Xu Dongdong, a notable Chinese artist, has contributed a set of books containing samples of his work to the Harvard library system, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.

Xu is trained in the techniques of traditional Chinese ink-and-water painting.

Over the past several years, he has donated some of his works and bound collections of reproductions to prominent institutions around the globe. Chinese embassies and consulates have facilitated the contributions. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City have been among the recipients.

The driving force behind Xu's personal commitment to philanthropy has been his desire to spread Chinese culture, according to the Xinhua news agency.

"Chinese paintings are magnificent, but Westerners know little about them," Xu told the agency.

Also according to the agency, Chinese Culture Minister Sun Jiazheng praised Xu for "helping the international community better understand China."

Xu traveled to Harvard last month to present the album which contained his personal notes expressing respect for Harvard. The two copies of the album are now located in the Harvard-Yenching Library and the Rubel Asiatic Research collection in the Fine Arts Library.

According to Harvard-Yenching librarian James K.M. Cheng, the album contains "the representative work of Mr. Xu through different stages of his development as a modern Chinese artist."

The donation is "an important addition to the Chinese collection of the [library] since Mr. Xu is an important modern Chinese artist," Cheng wrote in an e-mail message.